Khimraj
Last Activity: 6 Years ago
Always apply the momentum equation, taking into account both the momentum of the loaded car (the varying-mass object) and also the momentum of the added mass. In principle, F=ma is valid only for constant mass. It comes out from the momentum equation that you get F=m(t)a when the variable mass object and the added or removed mass have the same velocity. That was valid for the leaking-out sand, but it is not true for this problem. The falling-in sand has zero horizontal velocity, while the car has velocity v. The added mass has to be accelerated to the velocity of the car, it is done by the interaction with the car and the sand in it. The added sand is accelerated by that interaction force, and the opposite force acts on the car. So it is not accelerated by F alone, but by F-μv.